Dust drifted across the road as wind hissed through the grass.
A single figure walked the path — coat grey, hood drawn low, the weight of a weapon slung across his back.
Sydian kept his pace steady. The land felt cold — too quiet, too watchful.
Then – a flicker of motion.
Five shaped slipped from behind broken — bandits, blades gleaming dull in the light.
"Traveller," one sneered. "Leave the pack. Maybe we'll let you keep your life."
Sydian didn't slow.
The leader got irritated and lunged first.
Blue light flared
A single motion — the man fell.
Panic erupted. Two more rushed; the scythe unfolded, carving arcs of pure precision. Then silence.
Only one bandit remained, crawling backward through the dust, one eyed wide with fear.
Sydian leveled the rifle-form at his head — expression unreadable.
The—
A hum cut through the stillness, mechanical and high-pitched.
A small drone zipped past his shoulder, projecting red light across the ground.
"HEY! Back off!"
A girl sprinted from the treeline — tall ears flicking, goggles perched in her tangled black hair, tail lashing behind her like punctuation. Wolf-type Zylos. Soot streaked across her cheek, grease across her gloves. She skidded between Sydian and the bandit, arms spread wide.
"He's done! You don't have to finish him!"
Sydian regarded her without expression. "He attacked me first."
"And now he's bleeding out. Killing him won't give him a second chance."
Her voice trembled once, then steadied.
Sydian's grip loosened by a fraction. The rifle lowered.
The bandit exhaled in disbelief. The girl whistled; two more drones zipped forward, blue fields knitting the man's wound shut. When he could stagger upright, she jerked her thumb toward the forest.
"Go. If I see your face again, I'll forget I'm nice."
He fled.
She watched him vanish, then turned on Sydian. "What's wrong with you?"
He blinked once. "Efficiency."
"That's not efficiency, that's emotional constipation."
"…Noted."
Her tail flicked. "I'm Nicole Charlotte. Nikki to friends — and yeah, you're allowed to use it."
He hesitated before replying. "Sydian."
Nikki grinned. "Cool name. Kinda tragic, though."
He said nothing.
"Alright, Sydian-the-Tragic, where you headed? Don't tell me nowhere, because you've got that 'mission brooding in the distance' vibe."
"Aurora Academy."
Her eyes lit up. "Same! Sentinel program applicant. Guess we're travel buddies."
"I work alone."
She was already walking beside him. "Sure you do."
They followed the cracked road north. Trees bowed under frost, branches whispering above them. For a while, only their footsteps and the hum of Nikki's drones filled the silence.
"You don't talk much, huh?"
Silence.
"Great! I'll do it for both of us."
She pointed at his weapon. "Scythe-rifle hybrid? You build it?"
"No."
"Figures. It's misaligned. Rail's off by three percent. Fire that at full output and you'll lose an arm."
He stopped walking. "You're an engineer."
"Tech-Vex Hybrid, thank you very much. I fix, invent, occasionally explode things." She beamed. "Lucky for you, I can tune that beauty before it bites you."
"…Understood, Wolfie."
She froze. "Excuse me?"
"You are a wolf-type Zylos."
"That doesn't mean— ugh. You know what? Fine. Brooding-blade-man."
"…Sydian is acceptable."
"Wolfie it is."
He exhaled, barely audible. She smirked.
By dusk they reached a clearing ringed by frost-coated trees. Sydian scanned the perimeter, checking wind pattern, soil firmness, and escape angles.
"Camp here."
"Glad you finally talk." Nikki unclipped a capsule from her belt; it unfolded into a compact shelter and hovering drones. "Ta-da! Instant home."
Sydian gathered wood. When the fire caught, orange reflected off his pale eyes like distant stars. Nikki sat cross-legged opposite him, tail curled around her knees.
"So, mystery man," she began, poking the flames with a stick, "what's your power?"
He paused sharpening his blade. "Core Augmentation. Kinetic Exchange."
Her ears perked. "what does that do?."
"I can copy or share up to 60% of anyone's physical stats (Strength, Speed, Reflexes, etc) by touch.
It can stack this augmentation up to 5×."
"Interesting. You could boost allies without draining them. You'd be a nightmare in close combat."
He said nothing.
She smiled softer. "You're strong, huh?"
He stared into the fire. "Strong enough to do what's necessary."
Nikki didn't joke. She only nodded.
After a moment, she stretched out on her bedroll. "Wake me if anything tries to eat us."
He didn't answer. She was asleep within minutes.
Sydian watched the embers flicker. He should have felt nothing — but the silence felt less empty.
Morning rose pale and cold.
Nikki blinked awake to find the opposite bedroll empty.
She groaned. "Unbelievable. He ditched me."
A quick sniff of the air — metal, frost, faint smoke. Sydian's trail.
Grinning, she tightened her boots. "You're not losing me that easy."
She followed.
Sydian walked ahead, unaware — or pretending to be. The forest thinned toward open fields when a rustle shifted behind him.
"You walk really slow for someone trying to ditch me," Nikki said, landing beside him.
He didn't sigh, but close.
"Tracking me by scent."
"Yup."
"…Interesting."
"That's all? Not even a 'wow Nikki you're amazing'?"
"Keep your voice down."
She grinned. "Still counts as talking."
The banter died as the wind changed
Sydian's expression sharpened.
"Scourge."
Shapes moved between trees — black-veined hounds, eyes burning crimson. Seven of them.
Nikki drew her chakram; circuits along its rim flared alive. "You take left?"
He nodded once.
The pack lunged.
Sydian's palm brushed a hound's flank — a pulse of blue through his veins.
Kinetic Exchange: Activated.
Speed, strength, precision multiplied.
He moved like wind through water — one clean arc, one severed neck.
No wasted motion. No sound.
Nikki fought like music — her chakram slicing in whirling loops, laughter echoing with each hit. "Come on, pups! Dance!"
Minutes later, silence returned. Ash drifted where monsters fell.
Nikki rested her hands on her knees, panting lightly. "For the record — that was insanely cool."
Sydian said nothing.
She bumped his arm. "Travel partners, yeah?"
He glanced at her, then at the road stretching toward the horizon.
"…Yes."
Nikki grinned. "Try not to ditch me this time."
He didn't smile, but something in his eyes softened — a faint flicker of warmth beneath the ash.
The road ahead gleamed under morning light.
Aurora awaited.
The road curved out of the forest, trading frost and silence for sound and scent.
Stone replaced soil. Smoke turned to spice. Voices — hundreds of them — drifted on the wind.
By noon, the City of Vale unfolded before them like a painting in motion.
Silver rooftops gleamed under sunlight, banners rippled from towers, and floating lanterns bobbed lazily above the marketplace. A thousand lives, colliding in chaos and rhythm.
Nikki inhaled deeply, tail swaying. "Oh, thank the stars — civilization! I can finally eat something that isn't dried jerky."
Sydian said nothing. His gaze tracked the skyline beyond the city — where distant spires of Aurora Academy cut through the clouds like blades.
He'd seen them once before, from far away, as a child hiding beneath a burning sky.
The memory flickered and vanished.
The city gates stood open, guarded by armored Sentinels whose armor glowed faintly with inscribed runes. One eyed Sydian as they passed but said nothing; the weight of his presence discouraged curiosity.
Nikki, hood up, kept close — Zylos weren't welcome everywhere, even here. But Sydian didn't notice the stares she earned; he barely noticed his own shadow.
"Alright," she muttered, trying for levity. "Food first, trauma later."
He didn't respond.
"Wow. Stoic and starving. Deadly combo."
Still silence.
"Fine, then I'm buying food for two. You can just stand there and look tragic."
The market hit them like an explosion of color.
Vendors shouted over one another. Children darted between stalls. Spices burned the air — cinnamon, pepper, charred meat.
Nikki moved like she'd been born for chaos, bouncing from stall to stall, energy overflowing.
Sydian followed in silence, scanning exits, hands loose at his sides. His instincts never rested — even surrounded by laughter.
"Here."
Nikki pressed a skewer of roasted meat into his hand. "Eat."
"I don't—"
"Eat." Her eyes narrowed. "You need it more than you think."
He studied the skewer for a moment as if it were a weapon. Then, slowly, he took a bite.
Flavor hit like a memory — warmth, smoke, something human.
He froze.
Nikki grinned. "See? Not all fire burns."
He didn't answer, but he didn't stop eating either.
They wandered deeper into the city. Children pointed at Nikki's drones hovering lazily behind her; she let them play with the smaller ones, tweaking circuits with a soft smile.
Sydian watched from a distance.
It was strange — how easily she laughed, how naturally she belonged.
He wondered if he ever had.
By late afternoon, the crowd thickened near the city's northern edge. Stone roads widened into a grand causeway leading toward colossal silver gates that shimmered under the sun.
Aurora Academy.
The fortress of the gifted.
Sprawling towers of crystal-steel stretched skyward, their surfaces engraved with glowing channels of energy. Floating sigils rotated above the entrance — Light, Will, Ascension.
Nikki whistled low. "I've seen it in holos, but… damn."
Sydian's expression didn't change, but his pulse quickened once — a memory stirring of another light, another symbol. A banner burning. His father's last words.
He blinked, and the image was gone.
Crowds of candidates gathered in front of the gates, each wearing a shimmering badge displaying their applicant number. Voices buzzed with excitement and nerves.
"—Heard they make you fight Scourge in the first test!"
"—No way, that's just a rumor."
"—My cousin failed last year; said they evaluate resonance compatibility."
Nikki adjusted her satchel. "So. You nervous?"
"No."
"Right. Of course not. Mister Calm-About-Everything."
She elbowed him lightly. "You sure you're not secretly a robot?"
He almost replied — but the academy gates began to move.
A thunderous hum rippled through the air as the massive doors parted, revealing a courtyard bathed in light. At its center, a tall holographic sigil flickered to life — the crest of Aurora.
A voice boomed through hidden amplifiers:
"Entrance Exam Candidates — Welcome to the Academy of Ascension."
The crowd fell silent.
"Proceed to the Central Grounds. You will be divided into evaluation squads. Instructions will follow."
Nikki swallowed, then straightened her back. "Well. Guess this is it."
Sydian's gaze never left the sigil. Its light refracted through his eyes, reflecting pale and cold.
"Guess so," he murmured.
They moved with the flow of candidates through marble corridors that pulsed faintly with magical conduits. Walls shimmered with faint Aethel energy, reacting to those who walked past — measuring, analyzing, remembering.
Holographic banners floated above the hallway: "Honor. Power. Purpose."
Nikki tilted her head. "Kinda cultish."
Sydian's silence almost sounded like agreement.
The Central Grounds opened before them — a massive arena surrounded by viewing platforms. Instructors and sentinels lined the edges, clipboards in hand, eyes sharp.
At the center stood a platform with glowing sigils — teleportation circles.
Nikki's ears twitched. "Simulation portals?"
Sydian nodded once.
"Guess they're going all out."
"Candidates!" the announcer's voice called again.
"You will be grouped in teams of four. Cooperation is mandatory. Success depends on survival, strategy, and synergy."
Nikki grimaced. "Survival? That's a bad word to hear in an exam."
"Failure to cooperate will result in disqualification — or injury. Both are acceptable outcomes."
"Oh, that's even worse," she muttered.
Sydian's eyes narrowed.
He recognized the design of the sigils — a dimensional compression field. Whoever engineered this exam wasn't testing students. They were testing soldiers.
He stepped forward when his number was called.
"Squad Twenty-Seven:
Caelia Frostvale.
Finn Arkayne.
Nicole Charlotte.
Sydian Vane."
Nikki's tail puffed. "Hey, that's us! Wait—Vane?"
He didn't look at her. "It's a name."
"…You're full of mysteries, huh?"
He didn't deny it.
Two figures approached: one a tall boy with copper hair and a heavy war hammer slung over his shoulder, grin wide and easy; the other a girl with pale-blonde hair tied in a high braid, wearing the academy's prototype uniform — clean, sharp, perfectly aligned.
She looked every bit the commander she was meant to become.
"Caelia Frostvale," she said, voice confident. "You three are my team?"
Nikki saluted with mock formality. "Nicole Charlotte, tech-Vex engineer and resident genius. Nice to meet ya."
"Finn Arkayne," the hammer-user added, grin infectious. "If it moves, I can hit it."
Caelia smiled politely before her gaze settled on Sydian. "And you?"
"…Sydian," he said simply.
Something in his tone made her pause. Calm, empty, unreadable.
Her instincts whispered — dangerous.
"Alright," she said after a moment. "Let's not die in the first ten minutes."
Nikki snorted. "That's the spirit."
The sigil platform pulsed.
"Candidates, prepare for transfer."
Light swallowed them whole.
The last thing Sydian saw before the world warped was the academy's crest burning above — the same light that haunted his dreams.
And then, nothing but white.
The world reassembled in fragments.
Light shattered, then rebuilt itself into a new sky — deep amber clouds drifting over a vast forest that breathed with faint blue mist. The air smelled of ozone and earth. Artificial, yet alive.
Sydian landed softly on moss, boots absorbing impact with barely a sound. He scanned the clearing. Trees rose high, their trunks etched with glowing patterns — runes maintaining the simulation field. Beyond them, faint howls echoed. Scourge constructs.
Nikki stumbled into view next, catching herself on a root. "Okay—note to self: teleportation nausea is not fun."
Finn dropped down beside her, hammer balanced across his shoulders. "Not bad! Feels almost real."
Caelia landed last, posture perfect even in descent. She brushed a strand of hair from her face, eyes flicking to the others. "Squad check. Everyone functional?"
Nikki gave a thumbs up. "All limbs accounted for."
Sydian nodded once. "Yes."
"Good." Caelia looked up — sky panels rippled faintly, confirming their enclosure. "Objective should appear any—"
A holographic projection flickered into existence above them:
Trial Directive: Retrieve the Aether Core.
Environment Threat Level: Moderate.
Time Limit: 40 minutes.
Penalty for failure: Simulation collapse.
Nikki blinked. "Uh, 'collapse'? As in—"
"It means pain," Sydian said flatly. "Simulated. But indistinguishable."
Finn chuckled uneasily. "Great. Can't wait."
Caelia exhaled through her nose. "Alright, focus. We don't have time for jokes. We move north until we find the beacon."
The forest was eerily quiet as they advanced.
Light slanted through mist, bending around runic trees. Every sound — breath, step, heartbeat — felt amplified.
Caelia led, blade drawn — a longsword that shimmered with radiant energy. Her aura radiated control; her Aethel signature pulsed calm and steady, like the sun before dawn.
Nikki followed close, drones orbiting above her shoulder, sensors scanning for traps or energy spikes.
Finn lumbered behind, his hammer's weight cracking branches with every step.
Sydian trailed at the rear — silent, calculating.
His gaze moved constantly: tree spacing, wind direction, light angle. Every detail memorized. Every motion measured. He could already feel the simulation's rhythm — where it wanted them to go, where it wanted them to die.
Fifteen minutes in, the forest broke into a shallow ravine.
The beacon shimmered faintly on the other side — a crystalline sphere pulsing blue.
Caelia motioned for a halt. "There. That's our objective."
Nikki crouched, eyes narrowing. "Trip-line runes. Classic setup."
Finn leaned forward. "Can't we just smash through?"
Caelia shot him a look. "That would trigger every defense subroutine."
"Then we disarm," Nikki said, already setting drones loose. They projected a grid across the ravine — faint lines glowing red where traps were hidden.
She smirked. "Told you this brain's not just for looks."
"Good," Caelia said. "Work fast."
Nikki's hands danced over holographic panels, dismantling rune locks with precision. Each pulse of blue faded under her control. She was fast — confident.
Sydian watched her silently. For all her chaos, her focus in combat was razor-sharp.
But something was wrong.
He felt it before he heard it — a tremor through the ground, faint vibrations rising through his boots.
"Move," he said quietly.
Caelia frowned. "What?"
The ground erupted.
A hulking Scourge Behemoth tore through the soil — black skin cracked with ember veins, claws glowing molten orange. Its roar shredded the air.
Nikki's drones scattered. Finn stumbled backward. Caelia raised her blade, aura flaring. "Positions!"
Sydian was already moving.
The Behemoth lunged for Nikki — the smallest, closest target. Sydian intercepted in an instant, hand brushing the creature's arm as it swung.
A pulse — blue lightning across his skin.
Kinetic Exchange: Activated.
He caught the next strike bare-handed.
The impact thundered through the clearing, shockwave rippling the leaves — but Sydian didn't move an inch. He twisted, using the creature's momentum to slam it into the ravine wall. Stone shattered.
Caelia blinked, momentarily stunned by the sheer force.
"Finn!" she shouted. "Left flank!"
He grinned, hefting his hammer. "Finally!"
The hammer hit the Behemoth's leg with explosive Aethel discharge — the limb cracked, molten blood splattering across the dirt. The creature roared again, wild and thrashing.
Nikki hurled a modified drone into the air. It detonated above the Behemoth, releasing a net of blue light that wrapped around its form. "EMP tether active! Don't let it break!"
Caelia moved — fast, controlled. She darted up the creature's arm, sword glowing with light-magic resonance, and drove the blade straight into its neck. The light burst outward, burning through simulated flesh.
The Behemoth staggered, collapsed, and dissolved into particles of ash and data.
Silence.
Only the pulse of the beacon remained.
Nikki leaned on her knees, panting. "Okay… that was—holy—did we just win?"
Caelia exhaled slowly, wiping her blade clean. "Good work, everyone."
Sydian stood apart, staring at the vanishing creature — its dying roar echoing faintly in his head, too familiar.
The smell of burning ash lingered.
He could almost hear screams from another life.
Nikki's voice pulled him back. "You okay there, Windstorm?"
He blinked. "Fine."
She didn't believe him but smiled anyway. "Then grab that shiny crystal, hero."
Caelia stepped forward, placing a hand on the beacon. It pulsed once — and the forest dissolved into light.
They rematerialized in the central arena.
Applause rang faintly from instructors on the observation platforms. A few scribbled notes on tablets. Others whispered.
"Squad Twenty-Seven completed the trial in seventeen minutes. Impressive teamwork."
"High compatibility scores from Frostvale and Charlotte."
"…The Vane boy — no Aethel signature detected. But power output off the charts."
Sydian's gaze swept the observers — then away. Attention was dangerous.
Nikki was already elbowing Finn. "Did you see that hammer swing? You nearly vaporized that thing's leg!"
Finn grinned. "Guess we make a good team."
Caelia smiled faintly but said nothing. Her eyes lingered on Sydian a moment longer.
"Good work," she said to him quietly. "But next time, warn us before you pull something like that."
He met her eyes — unreadable.
Then gave a short nod. "…Understood."
Her lips quirked. "I'll hold you to that."
The exam supervisor stepped forward, voice amplified.
"Congratulations, Squad Twenty-Seven. You have cleared the trial. Your scores will determine dorm and team placement. Results will be posted by dawn."
Light flared again. The simulation field began to dissolve.
Before the teleport pulled them, Nikki nudged Sydian with a grin. "Hey — not bad for someone who said he works alone."
He didn't answer, but his silence carried a strange weight — less empty this time.
The light took them.
And when it faded, Sydian found himself staring once more at Aurora's towering gates.
The first test was over.
But his real purpose had only just begun.
The teleport light faded into cool air.
Stone replaced soil again — the wide evaluation chamber of Aurora Academy. Towering crystal conduits pulsed in rhythmic sequence along the walls, feeding energy into the glowing sigil beneath their feet. Students reappeared across the arena in flickers of light and disoriented noise.
"Ugh…" Nikki groaned, wobbling slightly. "If I survive this year, it'll be out of spite for teleport sickness."
Finn clapped her on the shoulder, laughing. "You did great. That net thing was genius."
"I know," she said, half-grinning. "And you? You were basically a walking earthquake. I'm surprised the simulation didn't sue you for property damage."
Caelia chuckled softly, then looked toward the elevated observation deck. "Eyes up — supervisors are watching."
A row of instructors stood behind a transparent barrier, conferring quietly. Their robes shimmered with faint Aethel light — the mark of higher resonance mastery.
Sydian felt each gaze brush against him like static.
One instructor gestured toward him. "No Aethel registration, yet resonance feedback is immense. Is that possible?"
Another replied, "He's hiding something. Or someone taught him control beyond his years."
He turned away before the whispers could reach him.
Nikki's drones retracted into her satchel with small mechanical chirps. "So…" she began, looking at her teammates. "Are we like, officially done? Or is there a surprise round where the floor explodes and we fight our inner trauma?"
Finn grinned. "Wouldn't rule it out."
"Funny," Caelia said. "But I doubt they'd risk breaking the chamber again after last year's incident."
"Incident?" Nikki's ears perked. "What kind of incident?"
Before Caelia could answer, the overhead sigil blazed gold.
"Attention, candidates. Preliminary evaluations are complete. Your resonance readings and compatibility data are being processed. Top-performing squads will be considered for accelerated team assignment."
The voice paused, then softened slightly.
"You have thirty minutes to rest before the next stage."
Nikki flopped onto the floor instantly. "Perfect. I'm resting right here."
Caelia shook her head. "Try not to get stepped on."
"Worth it," Nikki mumbled.
Finn sat down beside her, hammer across his lap. "Man, that felt good though. I've never fought with people who—" He stopped himself, expression softening. "—who actually knew what they were doing."
Caelia gave him a sideways glance. "You mean you've been solo this whole time?"
"Something like that," he said with a grin.
Sydian stood a short distance away, watching the faint light flicker across the floor.
The energy here was different — concentrated, disciplined. Aurora's Aethel system pulsed through every wall, connecting hundreds of resonance signatures. Each student was a node in a vast living network.
To him, it felt like standing inside a heart that wasn't his.
Nikki's voice drifted over. "You don't like crowds, huh?"
He didn't turn. "They make mistakes."
"True," she said, stretching. "But sometimes, mistakes make people interesting."
He glanced at her — she was lying flat on her back, goggles pushed up, staring at the ceiling like she could see through it.
"I used to think fighting alone was safer too," she continued. "Less noise. Less risk. Then I realized I was just scared of losing people who mattered."
He didn't respond, but her words sank deep — quietly, persistently.
"Anyway," she added, yawning, "since you saved my tail back there, you're officially not allowed to brood yourself to death. That's my rule."
He blinked once. "…Understood."
Her grin returned. "Progress."
A sudden chime echoed through the hall.
"Top scores announced."
A display shimmered into existence above them, names scrolling in golden light. Nikki shot upright immediately. "Ooh, rankings! Bet we made top twenty—no, top ten—"
Her sentence froze when she saw it.
#1 — Squad Twenty-Seven.
Finn stared. "We… we're number one?"
Caelia's brows rose slightly. "Unexpected, but not unwelcome."
Nikki punched the air. "YES! Finally something pays off!"
Sydian's name glowed faintly on the list — Sydian Vane.
He stared at it, unreadable.
Recognition was not what he came for. It was what he ran from.
Moments later, a voice summoned them to the upper platform.
The instructor who addressed them was tall, severe, with long silver hair and eyes like mirrors — reflecting everything, revealing nothing.
"Squad Twenty-Seven," she began, her tone clipped. "You demonstrated cohesion, adaptability, and exceptional power output under pressure. You will be advanced to the second phase — direct resonance analysis."
Nikki whispered, "Sounds fancy."
Caelia murmured back, "It's a test of your Aethel compatibility. They measure your life force under stress."
"Ah. Fancy and terrifying."
The instructor extended a hand, summoning four crystalline prisms. Each hovered before them, glowing faintly.
"Touch it," she said. "And let it read you."
Finn went first — the prism flared crimson, deep and pulsing.
"Stable fire-type. Strong physical core," the instructor noted.
Caelia followed — hers shone radiant gold.
"High-order light resonance. Command potential confirmed."
Nikki placed her hand on hers — the crystal burst in wild colors, mechanical blue interlaced with pink streaks of chaos.
The instructor blinked once. "Unorthodox hybridization. You should not be possible."
"Thanks," Nikki said brightly. "I get that a lot."
Then came Sydian.
He hesitated before touching it.
The moment his fingers brushed the surface, the crystal went dark.
A beat of silence.
Then — blue lightning shot through the chamber, every conduit flickering violently. The floor sigils pulsed once, then dimmed.
The instructor's expression hardened. "Remove your hand."
He obeyed.
The prism fell to the ground — split clean in half, edges smoking.
Whispers rippled among the observers. Caelia took half a step forward before stopping herself.
"What was that?" Finn murmured.
The instructor's gaze lingered on Sydian. "An anomaly," she said finally. "But not a failure."
Then, almost to herself, "If anything… an echo."
Her eyes sharpened. "You four are dismissed. Results will be sent to your dorm terminals by morning."
They exited the chamber into the twilight of Aurora's inner courtyard.
Students scattered around them, celebrating, arguing, exhausted. Lanterns flickered overhead, glowing like captured stars.
Nikki's tail swayed lazily as she stretched. "Well, that was weird. You totally broke the test, by the way."
"I noticed," Sydian said evenly.
Caelia crossed her arms. "Whatever you did, it shook half the grid. I've never seen resonance react like that."
He met her gaze, calm but distant. "Neither have I."
"Good," she said quietly. "Then let's keep it that way. For now."
Her tone wasn't cold — it was protective.
Finn laughed, breaking the tension. "First place, broken crystal, weird lightning — I'm calling that a win."
Nikki grinned. "Same."
Sydian didn't respond, but for a fleeting second, the corners of his mouth almost curved.
Almost.
As they walked toward the dorm district, the academy bells began to toll — deep, resonant, echoing across the night.
Sydian glanced up.
Aurora's spires glowed under the moonlight, silver and solemn. The crest shimmered faintly — the same pattern from his childhood memories, the same light that had once framed the silhouette of a burning home.
He stood there for a moment, unmoving.
Nikki looked back, following his gaze. "What are you thinking about?"
He answered honestly, voice quiet.
"Ghosts."
She smiled faintly. "Then let's make sure they don't follow you in."
Night fell softly over Aurora Academy.
Lanterns lined the marble walkways like floating fireflies. Students drifted between dorm wings, their laughter mixing with the hum of arcane generators that powered the spire lights above.
The entire fortress pulsed with life — resonance, ambition, promise.
Sydian felt none of it.
He moved through the crowd unseen, cloak drawn close. The chatter around him blurred into meaningless sound. His mind kept replaying the image of the shattered prism — the way the crystal screamed when it touched him, as though it had recognized something it wasn't supposed to.
He reached the outer courtyard and stopped near the fountain. The water shimmered blue under moonlight, reflecting his face in fragments.
To anyone else, he looked calm.
Inside, every memory he'd buried scratched to be free.
Ash.
Snow.
A hand slipping from his.
He clenched his fist until his knuckles whitened.
"Found you."
Nikki's voice cut through the quiet. She trotted up, tail flicking lazily, carrying two paper cups steaming with something sweet.
"You've got this mysterious 'brood alone by the fountain' thing down to an art."
He didn't turn. "You should be resting."
"Should, yes. Will, no." She offered him a cup. "Hot cocoa. Well, simulated cocoa. Probably fifty percent sugar and thirty percent regret."
He took it after a pause.
Nikki leaned against the fountain beside him. "You okay?"
"…Fine."
She gave him a look that said liar without words. "You broke the test crystal, Sydian. People don't just do that."
He stared at the rippling water. "It reacted."
"To what?"
He hesitated, then said quietly, "To something that isn't supposed to exist."
Nikki blinked. "You gonna elaborate, or are you auditioning for 'Most Cryptic Student of the Year'?"
He almost smiled. Almost.
Instead, he murmured, "Maybe both."
She chuckled, sipping her drink. "Well, for what it's worth — whatever scared that crystal, it didn't scare me."
That earned her a glance.
"You're strange," he said.
"I know," she replied easily. "But you're the one hanging out with me, so what does that make you?"
He didn't answer. She grinned into her cup. The silence that followed wasn't awkward — it was warm.
Footsteps approached.
Caelia and Finn appeared from the dorm archway, both still in partial uniform. Finn waved broadly. "There you are! We've got results."
Nikki's ears perked. "Already?"
Caelia nodded, holding up a small tablet. "Dorm assignments. We're in the same wing — Sector C, floor three."
Nikki pumped a fist. "Team proximity, baby! Wait—are we roommates?"
Caelia shook her head. "Separate rooms, shared hall. But…" she smiled faintly, "it seems we've been flagged for something called Provisional Squad Alpha. It's not a full team yet, but it's a sign they're pairing us."
"Translation: we aced it," Finn said proudly.
Nikki whistled. "Phase Two heroes, that's us."
Caelia's gaze shifted toward Sydian. "You should know — the instructors are already talking about you. Some are… intrigued. Others are cautious."
"I expected that," he said quietly.
"Then be ready," she replied. "Aurora likes mysteries, but it doesn't trust them."
He inclined his head. "Noted."
The group walked together toward the dorm tower, lantern light painting soft gold over stone. The academy bells tolled once, signaling curfew. Students hurried past, whispering about rankings, powers, rumors of upcoming missions.
Finn yawned. "If tomorrow's team announcement comes early, I'm sleeping through it."
Caelia smiled. "You'll be dragged out of bed, don't worry."
Nikki nudged Sydian. "You in the same building?"
He nodded. "Room C-12."
Her grin widened. "C-11! Great — if you disappear in the night, I'll just knock until you open."
He raised an eyebrow. "Persistent."
"Compliment accepted."
Inside, the dorms were simple but elegant — white walls veined with glowing blue lines that pulsed with each resident's resonance. The air smelled faintly of metal and rain.
Nikki stretched her arms above her head. "Finally. A bed."
Finn was already halfway down the hall. "Finally. Food stash."
Caelia sighed. "Finally. Peace."
Sydian lingered at the entrance, watching them go. For a moment, he almost followed.
Instead, he turned left.
The rooftop was quiet.
Wind brushed against his coat as he stepped onto the open terrace overlooking the academy grounds. Below, the silver banners of Aurora fluttered under the moon, each bearing the words Honor, Power, Ascension.
He stared at them until the words blurred into ghosts of another time.
A burning crest.
A child screaming for help.
A promise whispered into ash:
I'll find you.
He reached up unconsciously, touching the small pendant hidden under his collar — the last remnant of home.
A voice drifted up behind him. "You know, normal people unpack before brooding."
Nikki.
He didn't turn. "You followed me."
"Of course I did. Someone's gotta make sure you don't jump off just to look dramatic."
She came to stand beside him, arms folded against the chill. "Pretty view."
"Yes."
They watched in silence — two silhouettes framed by moonlight.
After a while, she spoke softly. "Whatever you're chasing… I hope you find it."
He looked at her then — really looked. The reflection of the academy lights danced in her amber eyes, fierce and alive.
"I will," he said.
And though he didn't know it yet, fate had already begun to move the pieces.
Below them, the notice boards across the dorm district flickered to life.
Holographic text scrolled in golden light:
Team Assignment — Phase II Begins at Dawn.
Selected Candidates: Provisional Squad Alpha.
Nikki's eyes widened. "That's us."
Caelia's name glowed brightest, marked Leader (Provisional).
Finn's followed under Vanguard.
Nikki under Support-Engineer.
And lastly — Sydian Vane, under Combat Specialist.
The wind shifted, carrying faint echoes of laughter and distant bells.
Sydian turned away from the railing. "Get some rest," he said quietly.
"You too," Nikki replied. Then, with a teasing smirk, "Try not to brood until sunrise, yeah?"
He almost smiled. "No promises."
She laughed, the sound light against the night air, and left.
Alone again, Sydian looked up once more at the moon over Aurora — pale, silent, watching.
He whispered the words only the wind could hear:
"I found the light again, Lydian.
I just don't know if I deserve to stand in it."
The bells tolled one last time.
And the Reaper closed his eyes beneath the world of rising stars.
End of Chapter 1 — The Road to Aurora